WHITESBURG, KY. "? When Letcher County had three separate high schools, each school struggled to provide its students with electives, extracurricular programs and remedial programs, Stephen Boggs says.

Boggs, who used to be principal of Whitesburg High School, is now at the helm of the consolidated Letcher County Central High, which has an enrollment of about 975 students.

"It just takes a little more to go first class,"? said Boggs during a Friday interview in his office. With smaller, separate schools, it was a struggle to provide students with options, and even more of a struggle to ensure equity for students across the county.

Some schools had Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs, while others didn't. Some could offer advanced courses for college credit, while others couldn't. Schools offered different foreign language options.

When financial resources, teaching staffs and student bodies were combined, the school system became better able to concentrate on offering first-rate electives and extracurricular programs, instead of struggling to make sure students in different schools had similar options, Boggs says.

Elective options

Having more teachers under one roof means a wider diversity of certifications to choose from when considering what electives to offer, Boggs said.

Of course, the school still offers the core subjects at each grade level "? English, math, physical education, science, history and social studies.

But once students' core requirements are out of the way, they can choose from a variety of electives, both catering to their interests and to career tracks, Boggs noted.

Those include both broadcast and print journalism, cultural literature, fantasy literature, mystery and suspense writing, A+ computer maintenance certification, botany, zoology, investigative science and a variety of fine arts courses, including band, choir, drama and art, taught at three to four different skill levels each.

Boggs added that the bigger school will allow Letcher County to rebuild its band program, which had shrunk right along with its dwindling enrollment when the smaller schools were open. While only about 20 students now participate in band activities, the school system has obtained a $75,000 grant from VH1 to buy new instruments, and is trying to attract future musicians early, he noted.

Advanced courses

The school doesn't use any sort of electronic classrooms for distance learning, nor do any of its students attend courses at nearby universities or community colleges, Boggs noted.

Wider diversity of certification means that more teachers can legally teach advanced placement courses for dual high school and college credit, Boggs explained. Dual credit courses are offered through a partnership with Southeast Community College.

Among the dual credit courses offered at Letcher County Central are English 101, algebra/trigonometry, calculus, biology, physics, chemistry, German, Spanish, world history, U.S. history and "foundations of education,"? a class for students who want to major in education.

Extra help

Terry Sturgill, Letcher County Schools' assistant superintendent for finance and operations, noted during a Friday interview at his office that any operational savings the school system has seen as a result of consolidating have been negated by the creation of new programs.

But it's not really a wash, he noted, if new programs are created that benefit students. And students who are doing well aren't the only ones getting new options.

Novel Star, a program aimed at helping students who have fallen behind catch up, was recently created at the high school. Full-time staffers are dedicated to meeting students' remedial needs in even the most basic subjects, like reading and math, Boggs noted.